Method, computer program and system providing real-time power grid hypothesis testing and contingency planning

ABSTRACT

A method is disclosed to simulate operation of a grid structure. The method includes specifying a type of simulation to be performed and at least one initial condition with a user interface of a device such as a mobile device, where the grid structure comprises at least one of a power generation grid and a power distribution grid. The method further includes transmitting the specified type of simulation and the at least one initial condition from the user device to a computing platform; receiving from the computing platform a result of the simulation at the user device; and visualizing the result of the simulation with the user interface. The type of simulation can be an N-k contingency analysis simulation, where k is equal to zero, 1 or greater than 1.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY FROM COPENDING PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) fromProvisional Patent Application No. 61/839,519 filed on Jun. 26, 2013,the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The exemplary embodiments of this invention relate generally tosimulation methods and systems and, more specifically, relates totransmission and distribution power grid simulation methods and systems.

BACKGROUND

Electrical power grids, also referred to as transmission grids anddistribution grids, are critical components of modern society. Poweroutages of any duration can lead to significant economic and personallosses. It has become essential for utilities and governments to planfor and to provide a sufficient degree of robustness for growingnetworks of millions of interconnected electrical power generators andusers.

Many electrical power grids have thus far grown organically, withoutoverarching coordination. Electrical utilities are exploring methods toevaluate the sensitivity, reliability, robustness and risk of the gridin real time; however, they currently can only do so in very limitedways.

Due to the growing complexity of electrical power grids and theincreasing societal demands for efficiency, resiliency, security andreliability of these power grids, there is a need for an ability tomonitor, simulate, predict and react pro-actively to any threats topower grid performance, as well as to model the complex, dynamicallychanging power grid network in real time, to identify potential problemsbefore they arise and take appropriate action before catastrophicfailure occurs.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect of the embodiments of this inventionthere is provided a method to simulate operation of a grid structure.The method includes specifying a type of simulation to be performed andat least one initial condition with a user interface of a user device;transmitting the specified type of simulation and the at least oneinitial condition from the user device to a computing platform;receiving from the computing platform a result of the simulation at theuser device, where the simulation is based on at least one of a steadystate model of the grid structure and a dynamical model of the gridstructure; and visualizing the result of the simulation with the userinterface. A visual representation of the result shows a result of thesimulation of at least one scenario. Visualizing comprises displaying amulti-dimensional representation comprised of indicators, where eachindicator corresponds to at least one simulation result, and furthercomprises upon a selection of one of the indicators visualizing a resultof the simulation of the corresponding simulation result or results.

The method can be performed as a result of execution of computer programinstructions stored in a computer-readable medium by a data processor,where the computer-readable medium and the data processor comprise apart of the user device.

In accordance with a further aspect of the embodiments of this inventionthere is provided a system that includes a computing platform comprisinga first interface to receive inputs from sensors that comprise a part ofa grid structure comprised of at least one of a power transmission gridand a power distribution grid. The computing platform is configured toexecute an electrical power grid simulator program and further comprisesa second interface configured to communicate with at least one userdevice through a communication layer. The system further comprises auser device connected with the computing platform through thecommunication layer. The user device comprises a graphical userinterface, at least one data processor, and at least one non-transitorycomputer readable medium that stores program instructions. Execution ofthe stored program instructions enables the user device to specify, inresponse to input from the graphical user interface, at least oneinitial condition and a type of simulation to be performed by theelectrical power grid simulator program based on the at least oneinitial condition; to transmit the specified type of simulation and theat least one initial condition from the user device to the computingplatform; to receive from the computing platform a result of thesimulation at the user device, the simulation being based on at leastone of a steady state model of the grid structure and a dynamical modelof the grid structure; and to visualize the result of the simulationwith the user interface. A visualization comprises a result of thesimulation of at least one scenario and displays a multi-dimensionalrepresentation comprised of indicators, where each indicator correspondsto at least one simulation result, and where a user selection of one ofthe indicators initiates visualizing a result of the simulation of thecorresponding simulation result or results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a high level block diagram of an example of a systemthat is configured to implement the embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1B shows another view of the system depicted in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a graph that shows an example of N-k contingency hardwarerequirements, in this example an estimated number of Blue Gene/Q coresrequired to run an N-k contingency simulation in one minute, versus k.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary display at the mobile device shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B of an initial visualization of a grid system topology.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary display at the mobile device shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B of a parameter editing sidebar.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary display at the mobile device shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B of a visualization of simulation results.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary display at the mobile device shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B of individual bus information.

FIGS. 6-8 each show an exemplary display at the mobile device shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B of a summary visualization of N−1 contingency scenarios.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary display at the mobile device shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B of a Simulation Navigator enabling a visualization of one of aplurality of simulation results.

FIG. 10 shows the operation of the Simulation Navigator of FIG. 6 forenabling a visualization and navigation of multiple simulation results.

FIGS. 11-13 shows an exemplary display at the mobile device shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B of different views of an entire transmission grid, whereFIG. 11 shows a zoomed-out overview, FIG. 12 shows a zoomed-out powerflow visualization, and FIG. 13 shows a zoomed-in view of a portion ofthe power flow visualization of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of this invention provide in one aspect thereof methods,computer programs and a system for electrical power grid simulation andreliability analytics, including remote control and visualizationthrough the use of devices having preferably some type of graphical userinterface.

More generally the embodiments of this invention enable simulations of agrid structure to be performed in accordance with one or more scenariosof interest to a user. A scenario could be related to a contingency inan electrical power grid, such as simulating an effect of removing fromservice one or more grid components. In other non-limiting examples thescenario could be an addition of a new grid component, or thesubstitution of one grid component for another grid component.

The embodiments of this invention provide in one aspect thereof agraphical user interface (GUI) configured to increase the reliabilityand efficiency of electrical power grids by enabling improved, real-timecontingency planning. In some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments theGUI can be embodied in a mobile device, e.g., in a laptop, or a tablet,or a smart phone, and therefore allows both immediate response toemergency situations and convenient contingency planning, regardless ofa user's location. The exemplary embodiments of this invention alsoprovide for the use of the GUI with a high-speed, high-performancebackend computing system. In one non-limiting embodiment the backendcomputing system is configured with a Blue Gene®/Q or similarsupercomputer to accelerate physical simulations of the power grid. Theresulting enhanced convenience and speed provides that improved powergrid reliability and efficiency can be realized by enabling flexibleremote collaboration and by enabling the exploration of many morecontingencies than are possible with conventional approaches. Theimproved real-time contingency planning made possible by the use of thisinvention allows a power grid operator to reduce the frequency, severityand duration of unplanned outages, while also enabling the operator tobetter optimize system performance, cost and efficiency.

FIG. 1A illustrates a high level block diagram of one non-limitingembodiment of a system 10 that is configured to implement theembodiments of this invention. The system 10 includes an electricalpower grid simulator program 12A running on a high performance computingplatform 12B. One suitable but non-limiting embodiment of the computingplatform 12B is a Blue Gene®/Q system that is available from theassignee of this patent application. In this non-limiting embodiment thesystem 10 also includes at least one GUI 14 embodied in a mobile device16 having wireless communication capabilities. Interposed between themobile device 16 and the electrical power grid simulator 12A/computingplatform 12B is a web server-based communication layer 18. It is assumedthat some type of interface 12C is provided between sensors and otherdata generating components of a power grid 15 so that real-timeoperation of the power grid 15 can be monitored and simulated. Theinterface 12C may also provide connectivity to various actuators (e.g.,switches, variable loads) installed in the power grid 15 enablingcontrol over certain aspects of the power grid operations. As is shownin FIG. 1B the instrumented power grid 15 could be referred to forconvenience as a ‘smart grid’ 15.

The computing platform 12B can be implemented using a number ofprocessor nodes operating in parallel (e.g., in a SIMD architecture).Scenario parallelism can be implemented using one task for each scenarioto be simulated and a scheduler process that is responsible forinitialization of the individual tasks, synchronization between tasks,consolidation of results for communication back to the mobile device 16,calculation of statistics, etc.

As considered herein a mobile device 16 can be any type of device havingsome computation capability and interface capability with one or moreexternal networks. The mobile device 16 can be assumed to include acapability to host the GUI 14. The network interface capability ispreferably based on one or more types of wireless communicationcapabilities but can be implemented in whole or in part via a wiredconnection (e.g., a cable connected between the mobile device 16 and aport). Suitable examples of mobile devices include, but are not limitedto, laptop computing devices, notebook computing devices, tabletcomputing devices, smartphones and, in general, any type of computingdevice having, preferably, an ability to wirelessly connect (e.g., viaradio frequency signals and/or optical signals) with the webserver-based communication layer 18. The mobile device 16 could be acommercial, off-the-shelf type of user communication device, such as atablet, containing the GUI 14 software as an add-in application program,or it could be a specialized type of device designed and configured toimplement the embodiments of this invention.

In any case the device that hosts the GUI 14, such as the mobile device16, is assumed to have some minimal functionality including for examplea central processing unit (CPU) or data processor 20 (e.g., amicroprocessor) connected with one or more computer readable medium(s)that can be embodied as one or more memories 22, and with at least onetype of wireless communication circuitry 24. In general the mobiledevice 16 can be assumed to include some type of user interface (UI)such as a display screen 26 and a user data input 28 such as a keyboardor keypad or a touch-sensitive surface (possibly part of the displayscreen 26) and/or a voice input and recognition system.

The memory 22 can be any type of memory device or multiple devicessuitable for integration into the device. The memory 22 can be assumedto store native software 22A needed to operate the device, such as themobile device 16, and to also store at least one application (APP)program or software 22B that is configured to operate in accordance withthe embodiments of this invention.

The at least one application (APP) program or software 22B can beassumed to include computer program instructions and software configuredto implement the GUI 14 in cooperation with the display screen 26 andthe user data input 28. Hereafter a reference to the GUI 14 can beassumed to include the GUI software stored in the memory portion 22B aswell as the display 26 and user input 28. The memory 22 is also assumedto include some type of data storage 22C to store, for example,downloaded data, to store results of computations and results ofsimulations, and to store temporary variables and related data neededduring computation/processing of the downloaded data.

The wireless communication circuitry 24 if present can be based on, forexample, a low power, short range, local area technology such asBluetooth™ or a WiFi-type of technology to enable communication with atleast one access point (AP) 30. In some cases the wireless communicationcircuitry 24 will include a longer range, wider area wireless technologysuch as a cellular radio transceiver and related circuitry and softwareto enable communication with the least one AP 30. The AP 30 in turnprovides connectivity via one or more networks 32 to the electricalpower grid simulator 12A/computing platform 12B. The electrical powergrid simulator 12A/computing platform 12B could be physicallyinstantiated at some particular location or it could be virtualized andreside in a computing cloud 34. The web server-based communication layer18 can be assumed to include all or some of the AP 30 and the one ormore networks 32 including any applicable gateways, domain name servers(DNS) and the like.

It should be realized that while an exemplary embodiment of thisinvention employs the mobile device 16, in other embodiments the devicethat hosts the GUI 16 could be any type of user device such as a desktopcomputer or terminal, and the interface to the computing platform 12Bcould be a wireless interface or a wired interface using any type ofconventional wireless or wired network(s) using any type of conventionaldata transmission protocols. Combinations of various types of networkscan also be used to provide connectivity between the user device thathosts the GUI 14 and the computing platform 12B. As such it should bekept in mind that subsequent references to the mobile device 16 shouldnot be interpreted in a limiting sense as to the type or types of userdevices that can be employed to practice this invention.

FIG. 1B shows another view of the system 10. In this view the powergrid, or ‘smart grid’ 15, is shown to include various power generators(e.g., public power plants, wind turbine generators, solar generators)plus energy storage equipment and plug-in EV units. The smart grid 15also includes the transmission distribution grid per se such as highvoltage, medium and low voltage lines along with transformers andrelated equipment. The smart grid 15 includes various sensors andrelated equipment to monitor the operation of the distribution gridincluding intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), remote terminal units(RTUs) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.These sensors and related equipment can include phase measurement units(PMUs), phase data concentrators (PDCs) and various ‘smart’ appliances,meters and the like. These are connected with the interface 12C viavarious communication protocols and links including, for example, theinternet, a private digital network and/or by using signals superimposedon the grid conductors themselves. The interface 12C can be embodied,for example, as at least one mass digital storage management (MDSM) unitthat is connected with the electrical power grid simulator 12A/computingplatform 12B. The operation of the electrical power grid simulator12A/computing platform 12B can be considered to implement a ‘virtualgrid’ whereby monitoring and simulations of the grid 15 can be carriedout. The simulations can be based in part on the actual real time ornear real-time data measured and reported by the various sensors via theinterface 12C. The mobile device 16 containing the GUI 14 isbidirectionally connected with the electrical power grid simulator12A/computing platform 12B via the web server-based communication layer18. In some embodiments the communication layer 18 could be or couldinclude a private digital network. In practice there could be manymobile devices 16 in use at any given time, where the mobile devices 16could be distributed over a wide geographical area both within thegeographical area of the grid 15 and external to the grid 15.

For those embodiments where the grid structure is an electrical powergrid the electrical power grid simulator program 12A is preferably onethat can solve a standard load flow problem for the steady-statesinusoidal voltages and power flows in a network, resulting from aspecified pattern of loads and generation. The code can be based onprinciples as described, for example, in MATPOWER: Steady-StateOperations, Planning, and Analysis Tools for Power Systems Research andEducation, Ray Daniel Zimmerman, Carlos Edmundo Murillo-Sanchez, andRobert John Thomas, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Vol. 26, No. 1,February 2011; MATPOWER 4.1 User's Manual, Ray D. Zimmerman, Carlos E.Murillo-Sanchez, Power Systems Engineering Research Center, Dec. 14,2011; and Power System Load Flow Analysis, Lynn Powell, McGraw Hill,2004.

The power system model of the electrical power grid simulator program12A can contain a number of buses connected by branches in the desirednetwork topology. The buses represent generators, loads, and/orconnection substations, and each branch represents a transmission lineand its associated transformer (such as a phase-shifting transformer).Since the model is meant to represent the transmission system, the loadscan be represented as substations, and the distribution system attachedto the output of the substations could be in some cases a level ofdetail not considered by the model.

Voltages are modeled as a complex quantity, with a voltage magnitude andphase angle. Power is a complex variable with the real part representingactive power and the imaginary part representing reactive power.

There can be three kinds of buses considered in the model: a PV bus, aPQ, bus and a slack bus. In a PV bus, typically used to modelgenerators, the active power and voltage magnitude are specified, andthe reactive power and voltage angle are to be determined by simulation.In a PQ bus, typically used to model loads, the active power andreactive power are specified, and the voltage magnitude and angle are tobe determined by simulation. In order to avoid over-specifying theproblem, one generator can be modeled as a slack bus (and also serves asa voltage-angle reference). In this bus the voltage magnitude and angleare specified, and active and reactive power are to be determined bysimulation. Buses can be grouped in the input/output data of thesimulator, so that, for example, a particular bus can contain severalgenerators and loads.

The branches can use a π transmission-line model, with parameters ofcomplex impedance, total charging capacitance, and the tap ratio andphase shift of an ideal phase-shifting transformer attached to the fromend of the branch.

The AC nodal power balance for the network can be expressed as a complexmatrix nonlinear system of equations. This is separated into real andreactive components, yielding a system of nonlinear equations that aresolved by numerical techniques such as Newton's method.

The electrical power grid simulator program 12A can operate in asingle-step mode, in which the initial known values are specified andthe unknowns are solved for, giving complete steady-state information onbus voltage magnitude and angle, generation and load active and reactivepower injections at each bus, and active and reactive power flow andloss for each branch.

Alternately the simulator can perform multistep simulations in whichcertain resulting values are compared to allowable bounds, andout-of-bounds quantities are assumed to lead to component failure oroperation mode changes. For example, excessive reactive power demand ona generator can result in the generator going off line, or the generatorproducing a fixed amount of active and reactive power (behaving like aPQ bus rather than a PV bus). Excessive power flow on a branch can causethe branch to trip and go out of service. After adjusting the model toreflect any failures or operation mode changes, the simulation can berun again, and the checking process is repeated. By continuing toiterate in this manner with changing loads and generation over time,studies of cascading failures may be performed.

It should be appreciated that the examples of the embodiments of thisinvention are not limited for use with any particular types ofelectrical power grid simulator programs, computing platforms, mobileand other types of user devices and communication buses and links. Theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and described above are providedjust as non-limiting examples of suitable technological contexts inwhich the embodiments of this invention can be realized. For example thesimulation could be transient or dynamic in nature as opposed to steadystate.

Because of the large amount of information required to prepare aninitial scenario (case file) for the power grid simulator 12A it ispreferred that these are set up a priori on a file system of thecomputing platform 12B. The GUI 14, however, does permit modification ofexisting scenarios or automatic generation of new scenarios.

An initial welcome screen presented by the GUI 14 allows the user tochoose whether single or multiple starting scenarios are to be used. Asingle scenario to be used is chosen from a list of available scenarios.Multiple scenarios may either be chosen from available prepared sets ofmultiple scenarios, or they may be automatically generated. Toautomatically generate multiple scenarios the user picks an availablestarting scenario, the desired number of scenarios to be generated, andone of any available rules for generating multiple scenarios. Forexample, a rule could be to start with an initial scenario, and for eachsuccessive scenario, increase the active power demand on every load by1%, such as might be experienced as air conditioners progressively comeon line during a heat wave. Another rule can be to create a progressionof generation increments or decrements. Still another rule could, forexample, introduce random changes with various statistical distributionsto simulate, for example, the variable injection into the power grid ofrenewable generation sources such as solar or wind power generators.

Yet another rule for creating multiple scenarios is related toperforming a contingency analysis for either generators or powerdistribution branches of the power grid 15. For an N−1 contingencyanalysis, N scenarios are generated, where N is the number of generators(and/or branches), and each scenario (contingency being modeled) has adifferent one of the generators (and/or branches) disabled. For an N-kcontingency, each of the binomial coefficient N choose k scenarios has kgenerators (and/or branches) disabled.

More generally the embodiments of this invention enables an N-kcontingency analysis simulation to be performed and the resultsvisualized, where k is equal to zero, 1 or greater, where binomialcoefficient N choose k scenarios are generated, and each scenario has kgenerators and/or branches disabled. For the case where k=0 thesimulation may simply enable the grid operation/status to be visualizedwithout introducing any failure modes or contingencies in the gridstructure.

After setting up the initial scenario(s), the user selects whether aone-step or a multi-step simulation by the power grid simulator 12A isdesired. A one-step simulation computes the resulting state of the powergrid 15 for each of the single or multiple initial scenarios. Amulti-step simulation can begin in the same manner, but then checks forout-of-bounds values, modifies the power grid model to reflect unitfailures, and re-runs the simulation. This process can iterate until auser-selected maximum number of iterations is reached, or until thereare no further significant changes.

In one embodiment the power grid simulator 12A assumes, simply forconvenience, that the power flows are in a steady state. However inother embodiments the power grid simulator 12A can operate equally wellwith a dynamical model.

The model resident at the computing platform 12A inputs various physicalquantities that are measured from the power grid 15 via the interface12C and uses these to calculate the physical quantities required toevaluate the overall ‘health’ of the grid 15, including for example whena given transmission line is close to or above safety tolerance levels.This information can be used to identify when various components of thegrid 15 are likely to fail and to take steps to remediate the problem.Additionally, this information can be used to evaluate the powerefficiency of the grid 15 and to adjust production to obtain increasedefficiency.

For example, it is typically required that power utilities perform sometype of N−1 contingency analysis used to answer the question, e.g.,“What would happen if any one component of the system were to fail?”However, growing concern over the reliability of power grids has led toa call for N−2 and even N-k contingency testing where k>2. For a systemwith N components, N−1 contingency analysis requires N simulations; butfor N−2, N(N+1)/2 simulations are required and for N-k there is acombinatorial expansion of the required number of simulations.

Use of the Blue Gene®/Q or similar supercomputer as the high performancecomputing platform 12B enables handling orders-of-magnitude moresimulations than are currently possible, and allows an expansion beyondN−1 contingency analysis to increase overall system reliability andefficiency.

For example, reference can be made to FIG. 1C that shows an example ofN-k contingency hardware requirements, in this example an estimatednumber of Blue Gene/Q cores required to run an N-k contingencysimulation in one minute, versus k. In general the needed computingpower of the platform 12B is that required to complete a desiredsimulation in an acceptable amount of time (e.g., 1 minute for“real-time”, 1 hour for “near real-time”, etc.)

However, it should be appreciated that the embodiments of this inventiondo not require any specific type or class of computing platform 12B.

Further in this regard it should be realized that in some embodimentsall or at least some of the computational and data storage and handlingfunctionality of the computing platform 12B could be incorporated andintegrated into the user device 16, and that in certain such embodimentsthe user device 16 could be interfaced to receive the outputs from thevarious grid 15 sensors via the interface 12C and the web server-basedcommunication layer 18.

The mobile GUI 14 for contingency analysis provides convenience and easeof use, and renders complex information quickly and accurately. The GUI14 is used to visualize the current state of the grid 15, to remotelyinitiate simulations on high performance computing platform 12B and tovisualize the results of the simulations.

The GUI 14 can also be used in some embodiments to remotely controloperations of the grid 15 and to remotely initiate remediation and othertypes of actions.

After the initial selection of a single starting scenario by the user ofthe mobile device 16 the GUI 14 displays a visualization of the systemtopology, such as the one shown by example in FIG. 2. The power grid 15is laid out geographically on top of a map of the relevant area. Thenodes of the power grid 15 are laid out according to their actualgeographical locations relative to the map. By using standard mobiledevice 12 touchscreen finger movements the user can pan and zoom in orout, to facilitate broad overviews or detailed manipulations of a smallpart of a large network.

In one non-limiting example, and as is common in the power generationand distribution industry, circular icons represent generator buses,triangular icons represent load buses, and square icons represent busesthat contain both generation and load. The lines between the busesrepresent the branches. In other embodiments different representations,indicia, indicators and icons can be used to represent these same andother parameters. In this invention tapping on one of the square busicons on the GUI 14 can activate a popup display region with an icon foreach generator and each load in the corresponding bus.

This operation can be accomplished at least in part by the mobile device16 sending information descriptive of the bus icon selected by the user(e.g., at least geographical coordinates) to the computing platform 12B,the computing platform 1213 returning the applicable bus-relatedinformation as obtained from the grid sensors via the interface 12C, andthe GUI 14 formatting and rendering the returned information on thedisplay screen 26.

If it is desired to modify the parameters of any of the generators orloads, tapping on them opens a parameter modification/editing sidebarsuch as the one shown in FIG. 3. Modifiable values can then be changedby moving the sliders, such as by the user sliding a finger across thedisplayed slider. In the sidebar color coding can be used to indicateout-of-tolerance and in-tolerance conditions.

While this embodiment can be used to modify parameters for a simulation,in other embodiments the mobile device 16 can transmit the changedparameter(s) to the computing platform 12B that in turn can relay thechanged parameters to the grid structure 15 for input to one or more ofthe applicable grid actuators. Alternatively the mobile device 16 cantransmit the changed parameter(s) directly to a receiver associated withthe grid structure 15 for input to the one or more applicable gridactuators. Thus, an aspect of this invention provides an ability send inresponse to a user input a command to the grid structure 15 in order tochange a state of at least one grid structure actuator. This embodimentcan imply the presence of any needed security and authorization layersin the communication stream between the mobile device 16 and thecomputing platform/grid.

In the single scenario simulation once the initial scenario(s) areselected or generated using the GUI 14 in combination with theelectrical power grid simulator program 12A running on the highperformance computing platform 12B and if desired modified, the usertaps a button that begins the simulation at the simulator program 12A.An example of the resulting computed system-state visualization for aparticular simulation that is returned to the mobile device 16 is shownin FIG. 4.

In the non-limiting example that is shown more particularly in FIG. 9the direction of power flow in the branches is indicated by arrows. Thebranches can be colored according to their utilization: e.g., blue fornominal (e.g., up to 80%), magenta for heavy (between 80% and 100%), andred when the maximum permissible utilization is exceeded. The discsaround the buses can be colored and also sized according to voltagemagnitude (Vm), where the larger the disk the more Vm differs from thenominal value. A blue color of a certain disc indicates that Vm iswithin tolerance, magenta indicates near the maximum or minimumallowable voltage, and red indicates out-of-tolerance. Note that thespecific colors, icons, line types, etc., used in this non-limitingexample are not limiting to the scope of the invention, as others couldas well be used.

Detailed information for each bus or branch can be obtained by tappingon its icon as is shown in FIG. 5 for Bus 54. The tapping actionresults, in cooperation with the electrical power grid simulator program12A running on the high performance computing platform 12B, in a sidebarbeing displayed for Bus 54 with graphical and numerical displays of theassociated quantities. In FIG. 5 the quantities displayed for theselected buses are: Pg and Qg, the active and reactive power generation;Pd and Qd, the active and reactive power demand; Vm, the voltagemagnitude; and Va, the voltage angle. Note that the specific dataquantities displayed in this one embodiment of the invention are notmeant to be limiting to the invention.

The GUI 14 provides a means of summarizing the results of multiple powerflow simulations in various selectable ways and visualizing theresulting summary. FIGS. 6-9 show different summaries of the same set ofN−1 contingency scenario simulations, in this case an N−1 contingencyanalysis on the branches. By selecting the Min, Avg, or Max buttons witheither of the Branches or Buses buttons, the visualization can be madeto show the MM, Avg, or Max branch utilization over all the scenarios,as well as the Min, Avg, or Max voltage magnitude at the buses over allthe scenarios. The selection of Min, Avg, or Max can be independentlymade for branches and buses.

With respect to a non-limiting example that involves cascading failuresimulations, and in the case of a multiple starting scenario, multi-stepsimulation, there is derived a desired type of multi-dimensional visualrepresentation of the results of the simulation of at least onescenario. The visual representation can take any suitable form, such asa two-dimensional Cartesian graph or matrix, a polar coordinate graph, apie chart, or a three-dimensional plot as but a few non-limitingexamples. In the non-limiting case of the two-dimensional matrix ofresults: for each initial scenario there can be a sequence ofsimulations in time. The time can be linear time. In another example thetime axis could be graduated by changes of state in the simulated systemand could thus be considered as being non-linear. In some embodiments atime axis may be inferred. In some embodiments a time axis may not bepresent but some other parameter can be represented. For example, for awind generation case one axis could be temperature or demand and theother axis could be wind speed. Further by example, for a solargeneration case one axis could be temperature or demand and the otheraxis could be cloud cover.

These and other types of scenarios can be represented by a SimulationNavigator box 40 shown in the lower left corner of FIG. 9, where in thisnon-limiting example each square (which may be generally referred to asan ‘indicator’) represents or indicates the result of an individualsimulation plotted over power (vertical axis) and steps (horizontalaxis). The horizontal axis could also represent time. The resultingdisplay can be viewed as a visualization of risk. Tapping on any one ofthe squares (indicators) in the Simulation Navigator box causes thevisualization of that particular corresponding simulation result to bedisplayed on the GUI 14. This can occur by the user device 16 queryingthe simulation program 12A for the results of the identified simulation(if the simulation results have not been already stored in the userdevice 16). The results can be displayed using the sidebar 42 shown inthe upper right corner of the GUI screen. It is also possible to viewaggregated statistics over multiple results, such as minimum, average,and maximum asset utilization, or percentage of values out of bounds.

Note that in accordance with certain preferred embodiments of thisinvention each square (indicator) in the Simulation Navigator box canrepresent aggregate results of two or more simulations such as, byexample, the average value of the results often simulations or the meanvalue of the results of 100 simulations. Those persons skilled in theart will recognize that the ability to represent and visualize this typeof data is very advantageous as compared to conventional techniques forviewing a result of a contingency simulation, such as by simplyreviewing charts, tables and columns of numbers.

As is shown in FIG. 10, if the user slides a finger (or any appropriatepointing device) across a number of indicators the Simulation Navigator40 initiates an animated slide-show of the chosen results to be viewed.This can be used to provide a visualization to the user of theprogression of cascading failures.

It is also within the scope of these embodiments to respond to the usertapping on one of the indicators of the Simulation Navigator 40 bystarting or launching an animation that visualizes the results of somenumber of underlying simulations. In this case time can be an implicitdimension. Cascading simulation failure results can thus be visualized.The underlying simulation could have been pre-computed and stored orsome or all of them can be computed on the fly.

In the exemplary simulation displayed in FIG. 10 the grid experiencesincreasing failures with time (e.g., 85%, 58%, 10% within tolerance).Eventually a stable state is reached as shown in the rightmost depictionin which most of the branches are out of service (e.g., rendered asheavy black lines), except for two grid ‘islands’ that continue tooperate due to, for example, a good match between local generation anddemand.

Note that although the squares that form the display of the SimulationNavigator 40 could be shown with a color gradient, the colors,gradients, shapes, and layout are not meant to be limiting. For example,the squares could instead by circles, or the layout could be scrollable,stacked, or have some other configuration.

FIGS. 11-13 show another example of a grid visualization example that ismade possible with the GUI 14 running on the mobile device 16. In thisgrid visualization example there are several thousand buses representinga particular transmission grid under peak-load conditions. FIG. 11 showsthe overall (zoomed-out) grid topology and, as with the othervisualizations, the layout of the nodes is chosen for topologicalclarity and may not correspond to actual geographic locations. FIG. 12depicts a power-flow visualization of the same grid and FIG. 13 is azoomed-in version of FIG. 12 showing just a portion of the buses,including those with the highest, possibly out-of-range power usage.

In FIGS. 11-12 color-coded regions can be used to representunder-voltage or over-voltage events so that such events stand outclearly. Zooming in on areas of interest (as in FIG. 13) allows moredetail to be viewed, down to the level of specific localized numericalinformation by tapping on individual buses or branches.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention the GUI 14 can allow theuser to interact with simulations that are currently running. In oneembodiment the user can visualize real-time grid data or evolvingsimulation data and interact with the simulation, requesting more detailas needed based on the evolution of the real-time visualization. Forexample, if during the visualization of a steady-state power-flowsimulation the user observes what appears to be an unusual situation theuser can click on a particular point on the grid to bring up a transientwaveform analysis of that point. This avoids computing the moreexpensive transient simulation unless it is needed, speeding up responseand more efficiently using computing resources.

In another embodiment the user can take a real-time ‘snapshot’ of thestatus of the grid and then use that grid data as the starting point fora contingency analysis simulation.

In yet another embodiment the user can have a long-running simulationrunning on the computing platform 12B and be receiving periodic updatesof the visualization as the simulation results become available. In thiscase the user can interact with the simulation by modifying the futurepath of the simulation based on the visualization. For example, in thecase of a cascading failure simulation a certain path may be observedthat is of no interest to the user, and the user can instruct thesimulator to prune the simulation scenario space to concentrateavailable computing power on the remaining interesting paths, to makethem complete more quickly.

It can be appreciated that when simulating certain examples ofconsiderable size and complexity the ability of the GUI 14, incombination with the electrical power grid simulator program 12A runningon the high performance computing platform 12B, can render avisualization that conveys at-a-glance the overall health of the grid.This type of visualization would not otherwise be accessible to a powergrid operator or other user; instead the user would need to review thistype of data in the context of large printed tables with numericalvalues, making pattern detection, interpretation and diagnosis extremelydifficult. One significant advantage of the visualization made possibleby the use of the embodiments of this invention is that a wide scope canbe made visible without sacrificing the ability to also view detailed,lower-level data such as is currently presented as tables of numbers.This can be accomplished by simply by clicking, touching and/or zoomingin on the area of interest. FIG. 12 represents one example of this typeof visualization that is made possible by the use of this invention.

As should be apparent the embodiments of this invention provide for avisualization on the GUI 14 to be comprised of graphical-type images aswell as alphanumeric-type information expressed in any convenient formatsuch as in a table for further specifying a result or a partial resultof a simulation or simulations.

Another aspect of the embodiments of this invention is that the user isenabled to select a portion of a displayed grid (e.g., a powerdistribution grid). The mobile device 16 sends to the computing platforminformation that describes the selected portion of the grid, e.g.,bounding geographic coordinates, and a type of simulation to beperformed. In response the electrical power grid simulator program 12Athen performs the desired type of simulation within the user-selectedportion of the grid. That is, only a portion of the overall grid that isof interest to the user can be selected and simulated.

In an example of an information flow made possible by the use of thesystem 10 one can consider the following steps.

1. The user selects the desired simulation scenario using the GUI 14.The mobile device 16 then sends a request to a server associated withthe computing platform 12B for the associated simulator input file.

2. The simulation case files can be stored on the file system (e.g., aparallel file system such as one known as General Parallel File System(GPFS™)). The GPFS™ is an example of a high-performance shared-diskclustered file system and can be attached to the computing platform 12B.The server copies the correct file from the file system.3. The server then returns the location of the input file to the mobiledevice 16.4. The mobile device 16 downloads the input file from the server,renders the grid visualization, and displays it to the user.5. The user may make changes to the simulation scenario using the GUI14. The mobile device 16 then makes changes to the input file based onthe user's input. The user can also specify the kind of simulation thatis to be run.6. The mobile device 16 sends any changes, as well as the kind ofsimulation desired, to the server.7. The server sends the changed input to file system.8. The server runs code such as a script or an application on thecomputing platform 12B that dispatches a job for the requestedsimulation to the compute nodes of the computing platform 12B, whichthen run the simulation and writes the output file to the file system.9. The server monitors the file system to determine when the output fileis ready. Once ready, the server copies the file from file system to itsown file system.10. The server informs the mobile device 16 where the output file is onthe server.11. The mobile device 16 downloads the output file from the server.12. The mobile device 16 renders the visualization from the output fileand displays the results to the user.

In general a grid can be comprised of a transmission grid or gridsand/or a distribution grid or grids, and all of the attendant systemsand subsystems thereof known to those skilled in the art. Sensors can beconfigured at grid elements (or a subset of elements) to be modeled. Anapparatus is configured for collecting sensor data to a central ordistributed computing facility. The computing facility includes at leasta computer program configured to model the behavior of the transmissiongrid based on a known or an estimated topology of the grid andcomponents of the grid; on a known, measured or estimated powerproduction (e.g., from public power plants, private solar panels, orwind farms, etc.); and on a known, measured or estimated power demand.The computer program can provide real-time information about thetransmission grid system to at least one user device, such as atablet-based computing device or a laptop computing device or any typeof computing device capable of hosting the GUI 14. The informationtransferred can be conveyed over one or more wireless links alone or incombination with one or more wired links. The combination of thecomputer program at the computing facility and a computer programinstalled in the user device enables a user to initiate and interactwith a transmission grid simulation to dynamically modify the gridstructure both speculatively (in a “what-if” mode to determine andvisualize the impact of hypothetical changes to the grid) and on-demand(in a “command” mode to modify the actual operational parameters of thegrid, e.g., increasing supply or shutting down a transmission line.)

As should be appreciated there has been described a system and methodfor modeling, simulating and/or visualizing the operation and flow on agrid of arbitrarily interconnected nodes comprised of a modeling module,a simulation system, a user I/O device, a grid input module, a gridoutput module, a simulation analysis module and possibly a grid controldevice. The simulation module can be configured to simulate asnon-limiting examples power grids, communication grids, waterdistribution grids, electric grids on integrated circuits, etc., as wellother types of complex multi-dimensional structures and systems andgrids having nodes that are interconnected by pathways, branches andconduits that can convey energy, fluid, radiation, motor vehicles (anetwork of roadways forming a transportation grid), aircraft (athree-dimensional air traffic control grid), etc. The system 10 includesa computer system 12B running a program 12A to simulate a model thatcould be in some embodiments a steady state or a dynamic power flowsimulation, contingency analysis simulation, cascading failuresimulation, etc.

The user I/O device embodied in, for example, the mobile device 16includes a visualizer for displaying a graphical representation of thestate of the grid or grid simulation at past, current or future times,and can include a user input device possibly with a touch enabled screento direct and control the operation of the simulation including setup,run time and analysis.

The grid input module provides a means to read pre-stored grid data froma data base and/or to input real-time sensor data from an actualphysical grid. The grid output module includes a storage device forsimulation output and analysis by the simulation analysis module. Thegrid control device may be used to control the operation of an actualphysical grid based on the results of the output from the analysismodule and/or the user IO device.

In accordance with this invention the user can interact with simulationsthat are currently running (enabled by high speed computation, massiveparallelism and flexible user interface).

The computer system could be implemented as a single-processor computer,as a multi-processor computer, or as a supercomputer, for example BlueGene®/Q or similar supercomputer. In some embodiments the computersystem could be integrated in whole or in part in the user device 16.

The visualization presented on the user I/O device could contain, forexample, one or more of visualization of power flow through the branchesof the grid, which may include active and reactive power flows, phaseangles, and maximum, average, or minimum values over a variety ofscenarios, and/or any other grid characteristics that are known to thoseskilled in the art.

The visualization of generation and demand at the nodes of the grid caninclude, for example, one or more of active and reactive generation anddemand, phase angles, and maximum, average, or minimum values over avariety of scenarios, and/or any other grid characteristics that areknown to those skilled in the art.

The visualization presented on the user I/O device can provide a userwith knowledge of multiple (e.g., thousands of) contingencies of acomplex system.

The visualization presented on the user I/O device can provide a userwith various representations such as maps showing a result of random orpseudo-random perturbations of the grid structure.

The initial user setup can include selection of initial system statesfor the simulation, selection of a schedule of system conditionvariations whose effect on the grid is to be simulated, which mayinclude one or more of a schedule of load variations, a schedule ofgeneration variations, a schedule of load, generation, and/or branchfailures. The selections may be performed by the user by selectingindividual nodes or branches to modify, selecting regions that includemultiple nodes or branches to modify, for example by ‘lassoing’ them onthe display screen 26. The initial selection can include as startingdata some stored historic grid data or it can include real-time griddata captured by the grid sensors prior to the start of the simulation,and possibly captured as well during the simulation. In some embodimentsa live data feed from the grid sensors can be employed and thesimulation can use periodic snapshots of the grid data in substantiallyreal-time or near real-time. The initial selection can also include theuser selectively specifying certain scenarios via the GUI 14, such asadding an element to the grid structure (e.g., adding a new generator ata certain location within the grid structure) or replacing an existingelement with another element (e.g., replacing a solar generator with awind generator). The embodiments of this invention enable various gridstructure characteristics to be visualized including as non-limitingexamples one or more of grid integrity, localized grid operationalstatus and a summary of the overall operational status of the gridstructure. The embodiments of this invention can thus be seen to findutility as a planning tool.

The storage device associated with the computing platform 12B may be ahigh-performance parallel file system. A non-limiting example includesGPPS™.

The embodiments of this invention can be considered in some aspectsthereof as providing a failure map or a risk map or a heat map offailures and potential failures in the grid structure.

The embodiments of this invention also encompass a ‘differential’visualization mode of operation where what is displayed to the userrepresents a difference between two (or more) simulation results thatrepresent a difference between two (or more) grid states. For example,one simulation result may be a historical (stored) simulation resultwhile another simulation result may be a current simulation result. Theresults are compared and what is visualized is the difference betweenthe simulation results. In another example one simulation result mayhave as a simulation scenario an ambient temperature of 72° F. while asecond simulation result may assume an ambient temperature of 76° F.This mode of operation enables the user to readily compare a differencebetween the two or more grid states and the effect on the operationalstatus of the grid structure. A fixed or an adjustable threshold valuemay be used to filter out difference values resulting from noise eventsor random fluctuations in some grid parameter(s) thereby causing onlymeaningful grid simulation result differences to be shown to the user.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a ‘circuit’, a ‘module’ or a‘system’. Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take theform of a computer program product embodied in one or more computerreadable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodiedthereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on a singlelocal computer, partly on the local computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the local computer and partly on a remote computer orentirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, theremote computer may be connected to the local computer through any typeof network, including a LAN or a WAN, or the connection may be made toan external computer (for example, through the Internet using anInternet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described with reference todiagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program productsaccording to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood thatany methods can be implemented by computer program instructions. Thesecomputer program instructions may be provided to a processor of ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer orother programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the specified functions/acts.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the specified function/act.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the specified functions/acts.

The block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture,functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems,methods and computer program products according to various embodimentsof the present invention. In this regard certain blocks may represent amodule, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block can beimplemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform thespecified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. As such, various modifications andadaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts inview of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and the appended claims. As but a few examples,those skilled in the art may contemplate the use of other similar orequivalent computer systems, user devices, grid structures and types ofgrid structures, communication links, interface components and the like.However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of thisinvention will still fall within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: specifying a type ofsimulation to be performed to simulate operation of a grid structure andat least one initial condition with a user interface of a mobile userdevice, wherein the grid structure of the simulation is modeled on atangible structure, where specifying the type of simulation comprisesselecting from a visualization of the grid structure individual nodes orbranches of the grid structure or selecting at least one region of thegrid structure that includes multiple nodes or branches such that thesimulation corresponds to the selected region, by specifying a physicalboundary around the at least one region comprising the multiple nodes orbranches of a geographical area visualization on the user interfacewhile a size of the geographical area as perceived to a user staysconstant, and further comprises providing the user an ability toselectively add at least one element to the grid structure or toselectively remove at least one element from the grid structure or toselectively replace at least one existing element with another element;transmitting the specified type of simulation to be performed and the atleast one initial condition from the mobile user device to a computingplatform, wherein the computing platform is remote from the mobile userdevice, and the mobile user device is connected to the computingplatform via at least one wireless interface; instructing the specifiedtype of simulation to be performed by running a simulator program on thecomputing platform, wherein the simulation is based on at least one of asteady state model of the grid structure and a dynamical model of thegrid structure, wherein the simulator program comprises data obtained bysensors in the tangible structure, and wherein running the simulatorprogram with the at least one initial condition produces at least oneresult; receiving at the mobile user device from the computing platformthe at least one result; and based on the at least one result,initiating or interacting with the simulation in real time to determineand visualize an impact of hypothetical changes to the grid structure,and controlling operational parameters of the tangible structure in realtime using the user interface of the mobile user device remote from thetangible structure, wherein the user interface displays the parametersof the tangible structure received by the mobile user device in realtime, presenting a multidimensional representation comprised ofindicators arranged together as a graphical simulation navigatoroverlaid on the user interface while the user interface of the mobileuser device provides a visualization of power transmission ordistribution of the geographical area on a map, where each indicatorcorresponds to at least one simulation result, where said user interfaceis further configured to respond to a selection of one of the indicatorsby the user to generate a visualization of the corresponding at leastone simulation result within the user interface, and where the graphicalsimulation navigator being overlaid on the user interface renders aportion of the visualization of power transmission or distribution ofthe geographical area on the map not visible, and wherein the mobileuser device is configured to control operation of the tangiblestructure.
 2. The method of claim 1, where the grid structure comprisesat least one of a power transmission grid and a power distribution grid.3. The method of claim 1, where the simulation is configured to monitorand simulate real-time or near real-time operation of the tangiblestructure.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the visualization of thecorresponding at least one simulation result within the user interfacecomprises a of at least one of power flow, generation or demand of thegrid structure comprising one or more of active and reactive power flow,generation or demands, phase angles, maximum, average, or minimum valuesand other parameters of interest.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherespecifying the type of simulation comprises an initial setup thatcomprises at least one of a selection of initial grid states for thesimulation and a selection of grid structure variations whose effect onthe grid structure is to be simulated, where the initial grid states canbe based on historical grid structure data or on real-time gridstructure data captured at least in part by sensors.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising providing functionality for the user tointeract with a running simulation to modify a future path of thesimulation based on the visualization.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereinteracting with the running simulation comprises the user to pruning asimulation scenario space in order to concentrate available computingpower on simulation paths of interest to the user.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, where the visualization is comprised of graphical-type imagesand also alpha-numeric information for further specifying a result of asimulation or simulations.
 9. The method of claim 1, where visualizingdisplays a graphical representation of a state of the grid structure orgrid structure simulation at past, current or future times, and respondsto activation of a user input device to direct and control operation ofthe simulation including setup, run time and analysis.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising visualizing a difference between results ofat least two simulations of the grid structure.
 11. The method of claim1, where specifying the type of simulation causes multiple simulationscenarios to be specified, and further comprises selecting a startingsimulation scenario, a number of simulation scenarios to be generated,and specifying at least one rule to be applied for generating themultiple simulation scenarios.
 12. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising sending in response to a user input a command to the gridstructure in order to change a state of at least one grid structureactuator.
 13. The method of claim 1, where the steps of specifying,transmitting, receiving and visualizing are executed as a result ofexecution by a data processor of computer program instructions that arestored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, where the mobileuser device is comprised of the non-transitory computer-readable mediumand the data processor.
 14. The method of claim 1, where a userselection of one of the indicators generates a visualization of thecorresponding at least one simulation result within the user interfaceas a graphical plot having a horizontal axis and a vertical axis toprovide a visualization of risk.
 15. The method of claim 14, where thevisualization comprising the graphical plot corresponding to the atleast one simulation result generated as a result of user selection ofone of the indicators is provided within a sidebar within the userinterface adjacent to the geographical area on the map.
 16. The methodof claim 1, wherein visualizing the impact of hypothetical changes tothe grid structure comprises providing periodic visualization updates assimulation results become available.
 17. A method comprising: specifyinga type of simulation to be performed to simulate operation of a gridstructure and at least one initial condition with a user interface of amobile user device, wherein the grid structure of the simulation ismodeled on a tangible structure, where specifying the type of simulationcomprises selecting from a visualization of the grid structureindividual nodes or branches of the grid structure or selecting at leastone region of the grid structure that includes multiple nodes orbranches such that the simulation corresponds to the selected region, byspecifying a physical boundary around the at least one region comprisingthe multiple nodes or branches of a geographical area visualization onthe user interface while a size of the geographical area as perceived toa user stays constant, and further comprises providing the user anability to selectively add at least one element to the grid structure orto selectively remove at least one element from the grid structure or toselectively replace at least one existing element with another element;transmitting the specified type of simulation to be performed and the atleast one initial condition from the mobile user device to a computingplatform, wherein the computing platform is remote from the mobile userdevice, and the mobile user device is connected to the computingplatform via at least one wireless interface; instructing the specifiedtype of simulation to be performed by running a simulator program on thecomputing platform, wherein the simulation is based on at least one of asteady state model of the grid structure and a dynamical model of thegrid structure, wherein the simulator program comprises data obtained bysensors in the tangible structure, and wherein running the simulatorprogram with the at least one initial condition produces at least oneresult; receiving at the mobile user device from the computing platformthe at least one result; and based on the at least one result, via theuser interface, initiating or interacting with the at least one runningsimulation in real time to determine and visualize an impact ofhypothetical changes to the grid structure, presenting amultidimensional representation comprised of indicators arrangedtogether as a graphical simulation navigator overlaid on the userinterface while the user interface of the mobile user device provides avisualization of power transmission or distribution of the geographicalarea on a map, where each indicator corresponds to at least onesimulation result, where said user interface is further configured torespond to a selection of one of the indicators by the user to generatea visualization of the corresponding at least one simulation resultwithin the user interface, and where the graphical simulation navigatorbeing overlaid on the user interface renders a portion of thevisualization of power transmission or distribution of the geographicalarea on the map not visible, and controlling operation of the tangiblestructure via using the user interface, wherein the mobile device isremote from the tangible structure.